Ford Focus RS Named Top Gear Magazine’s Car Of The Year

“You don't always need to spend big money to have a huge amount of fun”

BBC Top Gear Magazine Awards Issue, celebrating the greatest cars of the year and representing the best of the best.

The Ford Focus RS, has claimed the title of BBC Top Gear Magazine's Car of the Year, beating off serious competition from the significantly higher priced models, such as Porsche and Ferrari, to be the overall winner for one of the most coveted awards in the motoring industry.

Every year, Top Gear Magazine rates and reviews over 300 new cars. Each award winner is selected by Top Gear's expert motoring journalists – including some help from The Stig - and now the top 18 have been named.

The Focus is the latest in the long line of fast Fords to carry the iconic RS badge and the judges described it as a car that “combines such vivid personality with real practicality and serves it up at such a tempting price”. Naturally, it also picked up a second award in the Hot Hatch category. With a £29,995 price tag, the Ford Focus RS is one of cheapest cars on the list with a top speed of 165mph and hitting 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds. Winning Car of the Year is no stranger to Ford; the Fiesta ST also won the award in 2013.

Charlie Turner, Editor-In-Chief, Top Gear Magazine says “The Focus RS really is the complete package and claims our top award ahead of other category winners costing ten times as much. It delivers accessible performance and entertainment, with looks and practicality thrown in, and proves you don't always need to spend big money to have a huge amount of fun. When it came to the voting the decision was unanimous - the Focus RS is a hugely worthy winner of the TopGear Car of The Year.”

In the Manufacturer of the Year category, McLaren picked up the award after launching three world beaters in 2015 with the 570S, 675LT and P1 GTR. A triumph for the (relatively) young car company from the UK.

Other notable winners include: Mazda, who picked up the Roadster of the Year Award for the new version of the iconic MX-5; and Urban Warrior of the Year for the CX-3, described as an “urban SUV with a sense of humour”.

Porsche once again demonstrated their performance pedigree; picking up two awards; the Hardcore Car of the Year with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Sports Car of the Year for the Porsche Cayman GT4.

Top Gear magazine has had a complete overhaul, with a fresh look and re-design. There are new sections, layouts and feature formats. Plus, some of the new presenters from the show are featured in the Awards Issue with Chris Evans, Eddie Jordan, Chris Harris and Rory Reid all contributing.

The full results and details are available in the special Awards issue of the magazine on sale Wednesday 23 March 2016.

TopGear Magazine Awards 2016 winners in full:

Car of the Year 2016 - Ford Focus RS
Hot Hatch of the Year - Ford Focus RS
Manufacturer of the Year - McLaren
Coupe of the Year - BMW M2
Estate Car of the Year - Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate
Family Car of the Year - Land Rover Discovery Sport
Freak of the Year - Ariel Nomad
Hardcore Car of the Year - Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Luxury Car of the Year - Rolls-Royce Dawn
Muscle Car of the Year - Ford Mustang GT350R
Noise of the Year - Range Rover Sport SVR
Roadster of the Year - Mazda MX-5
Saloon of the Year - Jaguar XF
Sports Car of the Year - Porsche Cayman GT4
Supercar of the Year - Ferrari 488 GTB
Urban Warrior of the Year - Mazda CX-3
Zen Car of the Year - Volvo XC90
Engine of the Year - Ferrari F12tdf

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